Baby-pen.



J. A. EBERLE.

BABY PEN. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21. 1917.

1,260,886. Patented Mar; 26, 1918.. H 2? F W 2 K79 My 963 C 7 77 '{I i {a A? z JOHN A. EZBERLE, or sit. LoUIs, MISSOURI.

. BABY-PEN.

To all whom it may concern:

' to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in baby pens whereby babies or very young children are confined in a limited space, and at the same time permitted to play and move about the inclosure. The pen structure is open at the top and bottom, the floor of the room serving as a floor for the pen. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pen of this kind in which a baby can play and move freely without the danger of being injured by striking some part of the pen. Another object is to produce a double pen structure comprising a strong and rigid outer frame which constitutes a firm base or support for an inner frame wherein thechild is confined. The inner frame preferably comprises a soft flexible net, or other yieldable material, separated from and connected to the rigid elements of the outer frame, so that the child cannot strike the rigid parts of the structure. The pen cannot be easily moved by the child, and owing to the manner in which the'inner. and outer frames are combined with each other, the child cannot tip or tilt the pen.

A .further object is to provide a durable pen of this kind consisting of a few simple,

well arranged parts, capable of being folded so as to occupy a very small space.

Figure I is a plan view of a pen constructed in accordance with the'invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line IIIIII, Fig. I.

Fig. IV is an enlarged inverted plan view of one of the upper corner connections.

The structure I have shown to illustrate the invention comprises a rectangular outer frame including pairs of frame bars 1 and 2, each of saidbars extending diagonally from an upper corner to a lower corner of the frame. The frame bars of each pair are connected together by means of pivot members 3 and arranged to form an X-shaped Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

Application filed July 21, 1917. Serial No. 182,015.

brace, the pivot 3 being located at the junction of the bars. The upper ends of the frame bars are pivotally connected at 5 to upper corner members 4 arranged at the upper corners of the rectangular outer frame. The lower ends of these frame bars are connected by means of pivots 5 to corner members 4 at the lower corners of the frame. It will be observed that the corner connections are so arranged that the inner bars 1 are connected together at certain corners of the frame, the outer bars 2 being similarly connected-to each other at other corners of the frame. The different frame bars are thus connected together in such a manner that the outer frame can be easily folded to occupy a very small space. In folding this frame, the bars are moved about the axes of pivots 3 so as to move the upper corner members toward each other, at the same-time moving the lower corner members toward each other. When the frame is folded all of the frame bars are approximately parallel with each other.

The new structure also includes ayieldable inner frame surrounded by, separated from, secured to and supported by the outer frame. The inner frame B is preferably a yieldable net made of flexible cords, and arranged to form a rectangular pen. The upper and lower margins of the net are preferably reinforced by fabric bands 7, the vertical corners being reinforced by strips of fabric 8. O designates upper connecting devices extending downwardly from the upper corner members .4 to the upper corners of the yieldable inner frame, and C designates similar connecting devices which extend upwardly from the lower corner members 4! to the lower corners of the inner frame. Each of these connecting devices preferably consists of a ring 9 secured to a corner member, a hook 1O detachably secured to said ring, a strap 11 to which the hook is secured, and a buckle 12 adjustably connecting said strap 11 to a strap 13, the latter being secured to the inner frame. The hooks l0 detachably connect the inner frame to the outer frame, and the corner connections may be adjusted by adjusting the straps 11 in the buckles 12.

It is important to note that the lower edge of the inner frame B is higher than the bottom of the rigid outer frame, and that the corner connections 0 and C are inclined in such a manner that they may be tightened with the result of placing the elements of the inner frame under tension, and thereby firmly pulling the eight corners of the yieldable net to place the inner frame in the desired condition. The four upper corners of the net are pulled upwardly and outwardly. toward the four upper corners of the rigid outer frame, while the four lower corners of the net are pulled downwardly and outwardly toward the lower corners of the outer frame.

Instead of being mounted on rollers, th outer frame is preferably frictionally engaged with the floor so that the baby or young child cannot easily displace the pen. The soft, flexible walls formed by the net provide a very desirable inclosure for .the child, and the net is so far separated from the outer frame that the child cannot tilt or upset the pen.

In folding the pen it is necessary to disconnect the upper connecting members C, or

I the lower connecting members 0, to allow the upper corner members to move upwardly and away from the lower corner members.

Then the structure is unfolded and assembled, as shown in the drawings, it is securely locked in this condition by means of toggles 14, which connect the frame bars 1 to their companion frame bars 2. The toggles are forced downwardly to a position slightly below the dead center, wherein they are stopped by means of pins 15, each of which extends from one of the toggle members so as to engage the adjacent toggle member, as shown in Figs. I and II.

I claim:

1. In a foldable baby pen, a rectangular outer frame comprising pairs of frame bars, each of which extends diagonally from an upper corner to a lower corner of the frame, the frame bars of each pair being pivotally connected together and arranged to form an X-shaped brace, corner members at the upper and lower corners of said outer frame, pivots connecting the ends of the frame bars to said corner members, and an inner frame secured to said outer frame.

2. In a foldable baby pen, a rectangular outer frame comprising pairs of frame bars, each of which extends diagonally from an upper corner to a lower corner of the frame, the frame bars of each pair being pivotally connected together and arranged to form an X-shaped brace, corner members at the upper and lower corners of said outer frame, pivots connecting the ends of the frame bars to said corner members, a rectangular inner frame surrounded by and separated from said outer frame, and connecting members extending from said corner members to the corners of said inner frame.

3. In a foldable baby pen, a rectangular outer frame comprising pairs of frame bars, each of which extends diagonally from an upper corner to a lower corner of the frame, the frame bars of each pair being pivotally connected together and arranged to form an X-shaped brace, corner members at the upper and lower corners of said outer frame, pivots connecting the ends of the frame bars to said corner members, a rectangular inner frame surrounded by and separated from said outer frame, upper connecting members extending downwardly from the upper corner members to the upper corners of the inner frame, and lower connecting members extending upwardly from the lower corner members to the lower corners of the inner frame. 41-. In a foldable baby pen, a rectangular outer frame comprising pairs of frame bars, each of which extends diagonally from an upper corner to a lower corner of the frame, the frame bars of each pair being pivotally connected together and arranged to form an X-shaped brace, corner members at the upper and lower corners of said outer frame, pivots connecting the ends of the frame bars to said corner members, toggles, connecting the frame bars of each pair so as to secure the outer frame in its unfolded condition, and an inner frame secured to said outer frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto aflix my signature.

' 7 JOHN A. EBERLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. O. 

